Fastening device



March 10, 1970 l.. HoL'rz 3,499,192v

FASTENING DEVICE md March 11, 196e INVENTO United States Patent O T3,499,192 FASTENING DEVICE Leonard Holtz, Brooklyn, N Y. (418 JordanSt., Oceanside, N.Y. 11572) Filed Mar. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 712,045 Int.Cl. A44c `25/00; A44b 21/00; A411 17/00 U.S. Cl. 24-49 11 ClaimsABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A fastening device for neckties which includesa member having a first elongated portion and a second portion whichengages the rear face of the ilap of a necktie without piercing thefront face thereof. Further provided is a means for retaining thenecktie in position while allowing some limited free movement thereof.

This invention relates to fastening devices and more particularly tonecktie fastening devices for retaining the necktie in position whileallowing some limited free movement thereof.

Some prior art necktie fastening devices for loosely coupling a necktieto the shirt of the wearer, commonly known as tie tacks, have adisadvantage in that the front portion of the tie must be pierced.Therefore, for each use, one must take care to insert the tie tack insiibstantially the same place in the tie in order not to expose thepreviously made holes therein. Additionally, in many cases it isdesirable to retain the tie loosely in position without utilizing anornamental fastening device which is visible on the front face of thetie.

Some prior art necktie fastening devices which are not visible on thefront face of the tie are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,960,145;2,484,172; 3,017,445; and 3,116,525. All of these prior art devices havethe disadvantage of being inconvenient to use and to remove. Further,some of these prior art devices are designed to be permanently securedto the necktie itself, thereby precluding their use with other neckties.In particular, the device described in U.S. Patent No. 3,116,525somewhat loosely secures the tie to the shirt, but this device isinconvenient to use and difficult to remove from the tie.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the main object of this invention isto provide a fastening device for neckties and the like which looselyretains the necktie in position and which does not pierce the front facethereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a necktiefastening device which is not visible on the front face of the necktie.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a fasteningdevice which is convenient to use and which is easily removable withoutdamaging the necktie.

According to the invention, there is provided a fastening device forneckties having a flap which has front and rear faces. The fasteningdevice includes a member which has a rst elongated portion and secondportion which includes means for engaging the rear face of the ap of thenecktie. Further provided is means for engaging the elongated portion ofsaid member for securing the rear face of said necktie flap between saidengaging means and said member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an illustration of afastening device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening device of FIG. 1installed on a necktie;

3,499,192 Patented Mar. 10, 1970 ICC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a necktie fasteningdevice according to this invention. This fastening device, generallydesignated as member 1, includes a at portion 2 and a hook-like portion2a. The hook-like portion 2a is adapted to engage the rear face of anecktie ap between the stitches 20 (see FIGURES 2 and 3) of the seamwhich secures the ends of the rear face of the necktie together. Securedto member 2 is an elongated member 3 which is generally rod-shaped andwhich is adapted to be releaseably engaged in member 4. The releaseablyengaging member 4 is of a type well known in the art and is commonlyused in conjunction with the known tie tacks. Member 4 securely engageselongated member 3 when member 3 is inserted in the hole 17 therein. Inorder to release the engaging member 4 from elongated member 3, the knob18 of member 4 is pulled out. A detailed description of the internalworkings of member 4 is deemed unnecessary for proper understanding ofthe instant invention since it is a well known device and the operationthereof is well known to those ordinarily skilled in the art. Thereleaseably engaging member 4 is shown and described in U.S. Patent No.2,948,936. Secured to the member 4 is a chain 5, the other end of chain5 being secured to a bar 6. Bar 6 is adapted to be inserted into abutton hole in the wearers shirt, the tie being loosely secured to theshirt by means of chain 5.

It is pointed out that the purpose of the at (or tab) portion 2 is tofacilitate the handling of the device when installing it on the necktie.It should be recognized that member 2 may take any other convenientshape or form or may be eliminated altogether.

The operation of the fastening device of FIG. 1 will be more clearlyunderstood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 which illustrate the fasteningdevice of FIGURE 1 installed on a necktie. The necktie of FIGS. 2 and 3includes a front Hap 13, the front flap 13 having a front face 13a and arear face 13b. The rear face includes end portions 14 and 15 which aresecured together by means of a seam. In the illustrated tie and in mostties presently on the market, the end portions 14 and 15 overlap. Theseam is not shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity but is shown in FIG.3 as stitches 20. The tie further includes a smaller rear flap 16 whichis adapted to be pierced by elongated member 3 of the fastening devicewhen the fastening device is installed on the necktie. One method ofinstalling a fastening device according to this invention is by firstpiercing the rear Hap 16 0f the tie with elongated member 3, preferablyin the vicinity of a button hole in the wearers shirt so that the bar 6can be inserted in the button hole. Then, the hooklike portion 2a of thefastening device 1 is inserted between adjacent stitches 20 of the seamwhich secures end portions 14 and 15 together. Elongated member 3 isthen inserted in hole 17 of the releaseably engaging member 4 tosecurely hold the end portion 15 of the rear face 13b of the front ap 13under pressure between the hooklike member 2a and the upper surface 19of engaging member 4. It has been found in practice that the necktie maybe securely fastened to the fastening device 1 without the necessity ofhaving a sharp point on hook-like member 2a. For most applications ablunt end on member 2a will suffice.

However, a sharp point may be provided on hook member 2a, if desired,and portion 15 of the front ap may be pierced thereby to more securelyhold the tie in place. The piercing of portion 15 in no way affects theappearance of the tie and does not damage the front face 13a thereof. Ifis also pointed out that in the embodiment of FIG. 2, hook-like member2a bears upon upper surface 19 of the releaseably engaging member tosecure the tie between hook 2a and the upper surface 19 of engagingmember 4. It should be clear that the hook-like member 2a may also bedimensioned such that the hook extends past the edge of upper surface 19of the releaseably engaging member 4. In this instance, the portion 15of the tie is not held under pressure between hook member 2a and uppersurface 19, but is wedged between the edge of upper surface 19, and thehook portion of' member 2a. In practice, this variation has alsoprovided an effective necktie fastening device according to theprinciples of my invention.

FIG. 3 shows in more detail the manner in which the hook-like member 2ais inserted between adjacent stitches 20 of the seam 21 which securesthe end portions 14 and 15 of the rear face 13b of the front flap of thenecktie together. Further discussion of this figure is deemedunnecessary.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a fastening deviceaccording to this invention. This device includes a generally J-shapedmember 22 comprising an elongated portion 10 which is adapted to piercethrough rear flap 16 of the necktie of FIGURE 3 and to be inserted inhole 17 of the releaseably engaging member 4. The member 22 furthercomprises an extended portion 9 and a hook portion 8, portions 8 and 9being adapted to engage the rear face 13b of the front flap 13 of thenecktie between adjacent stitches 20 of the seam 21 in a similar manneras the hook-like member 2a of FIGS. 1 and 2. Secured to member 22 at 12is a flat tab member 11. The purpose of fiat tab member 11 is to enableone to more easily handle the device and to install it on the necktie.Tab member 11 is shown in FIGURE 4 merely by way of example and anyother convenient shape may be used. The operation of the fasteningdevice of FIG. 4 is substantially the same as the operation of thefastening device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 4, the member 22 may befabricated from a length of wire, thus providing an inexpensivefastening device.

FIG. illustrates an alternate embodiment of the fastening device shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. In certain i11 stances, the device of FIG. 5 may bemore easily and economically manufactured since the whole structure isfabricated from a single piece of material which may be stamped out in asingle operation. Member 2b corresponds to member 3 of FIGS. 1 and 2 andis merely bent down from tab member 2. rl`he dimensions of member 2b arechosen so that releaseably engaging member 4 properly cooperatestherewith.

It is further pointed out that in all of the illustrated embodiments,the hook-like members 2a may be formed by an embossing operation or thelike, rather than by the shown bent-down portions. In this type ofconstruction, a dimple or the like is formed on member 2a by a stampingoperation, for example, thus providing a protruding surface to cooperatewith releasea-bly engaging member 4 to secure the tie therebetween.

It should be clear to those skilled in the art that other minormodifications could be made to the basic configurations shown andspecifically described herein. For example, member 3 may take the formof a nail havlng a head thereon, or the like. The nail may be insertedthrough a hole in tab member 2, and the head secured to the uppersurface of tab 2. Alternately, the head of the nail may be secured tothe underside of tab 2.

.4 Either construction provides a structurally strong device.

The fastening device according to my invention may also be used tofasten two of more layers of fabric together. In view of the foregoingdescriptions, it is believed that one ordinarily skliled in the artcould easily adapt the subject fastener to this type of use.

While I have described above the principles of my invention inconnection with specific embodiments and particular modificationsthereof, it is to be clearly understood that this description is madeonly by way of example.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastening device for a necktie having a fiap with front andrearfaces, comprising;

a member having a first elongated portion and a second portion providedwith hook means extending substantially perpendicular to said firstportion, said second portion adapted to engage said rear face of saidflap without piercing said front face of said flap; and

means for engaging said elongated portion for securing said rear face ofsaid flap between said hook means and said engaging means.

2. A fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said engaging meansis adapted to slideably and releaseably engage said elongated portion.

3. A fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said member furthercomprises a tab portion to facilitate handling thereof.

4. A fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said elongated memberincludes a rod shaped member adapted to slideably engage said engagingmeans, said rod member having a sharp end which is adapted to pierce afabric layer.

5. A fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said member includesa generally J shaped member, the long leg of said J shaped membercomprising said elongated member and the short leg of said J shapedmember comprising said second portion.

6. A fastening device according to claim 1 adapted for use with anecktie having a rear face which includes first and second fabricportions secured together by means of a stitched seam, said hook meansbeing adapted to engage said rear face of said flap between adjacentstitches of said seam.

7. A fastening device according to claim 6 wherein said hook means isadapted to engage said rear face of said flap between said first andsecond fabric portions and between adjacent stitches of said seam.

8. A fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said member furthercomprises a tab portion, said second portion extending from said tabportion, and said elongated portion includes a rod shaped elementextending from said tab portion, said rear face being secured betweensaid hook means and said engaging means.

9. Apparatus for fastening together at least two layers of fabric or thelike comprising:

a member having:

a portion provided with hook means adapted to contact a first one ofsaid layers; and an elongated portion extending substantiallyperpendicular to said portion having hook means, said elongated portionpiercing a second one of said layers; and means cooperating with saidmember and slidably engaging said elongated portion for urging said hookmeans against said cooperating means, to frictlonally secure said firstlayer between said hook means and said cooperating means. 10. Afastening device for a necktie having a flap with front and rear facescomprising:

a member having a first elongated portion and a second portion extendingsubstantially perpendicular to said first portion, said second portionadapted 5 6 to engage said rear face of said ap without piercingReferences Cited either Said front face Or Said real' face 0f Said Hap;UNITED STATES PATENTS and i D. 210 992 5/1968 Cohen v means for engagmgsaid elongated portion for frictionally securing said rear face of saidflap between 2009911 7/1935 wemschrelder 24-85 5 2,881,448 4/1959 Healy2-145 XR 3,019,445 2/ 1962 Hirsch et al. 3,360,800 1/1968 Less.3,319,304 5/1967 Adams.

said member and said engaging means. 11. A fastening device according toclaim 10 wherein said second portion is provided with hook means, therear face of said ap being frictionally secured between said hook meansand said engaging means. 10 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner

